Greece hit one more all times record in daily confirmed coronavirus cases: 667 new cases were announced on Tuesday and another 8 deaths. Of the new cases on Tuesday, 52 were detected among tourists.
Attica is again on top of the list with 251 new cases, followed by Thessaloniki with 125.
Health authorities said during the weekly briefing on Tuesday, that in the last two weeks Greece recorded 5,528 new confirmed cases and 100 deaths as well as 472 hospital discharges, 6.078 recoveries at home.
Health Ministry committee member, professor Gkikas Majiorkinis caled on people aged 18 to 40 to wear face masks and be particularly observant of preventative measures. He added that people aged 18-39 comprise, in recent days, 60%-70% of all new cases, compared to previous days. The 18-39 group also shows a rise in the positive test results rate, ranging 10%-20%.
Fatalities due to the coronavirus have also increased on average, from around 5 a day to at least 7 or 8 per day, this week.
The only number remaining stable is that of intubated patients in hospitals, which ranges over 80 per day, he said.
He warned that people with O blood type are not immune from the virus, as media reported, while smokers are twice as likely to fall sick from Covid-19 illness; he appealed to them to abstain from smoking at this time.
Head of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias urged citizens at Thessaloniki, Ioannina and Kastoria to remain on high alert during the increased coronavirus epidemiological load observed in these areas over the last few days.
Regarding the situation in Attica region, where new cases are rising persistently, he described it as “critically stable.” Central Athens is a particularly sensitive and dangerous area for the virus’ dispersal, therefore absolute vigilance in observing all health safety measures there is essential, he added.
Official data October 20
According to the official daily bulletin on Tuesday, 3613 (13.6%) of the total coronavirus cases are related to travel abroad and 10539 (39.8%) are related to already known infection case.
55.6% of the infected are men.
The number of intubated patients in ICUs is 87 from 85 a day earlier. Their average age is 66, among them are 27 women. 93.1% have underlying health problems or are aged over 70.
260 people have been discharged from ICUs since the start of the pandemic in Greece.
Eight more deaths in the last 24 hours increased death toll to 528. Of the deceased 199 were women. The average age of the deceased was 79 and 96.2% of the deceased had an underlying condition or/and was over 70 years old.
Total tests since begin of outbreak are 1,568,798.
Tests in the last 24 hours: 19,406 with 3.44% of them positive. A good, normal number with less reason for concerns is when positive is below 2%.
Daily growth at +2.6%.
Geographical distribution October 20
Of the 667 new coronavirus cases, 88 are related to known clusters and 42 were detected at the country’s entry points.
While the second biggest city in the country, Thessaloniki, seemed to had taken the pandemic under control, a rise of infections has been detected in the last couple of days.
Majority of new cases are recorded in Attica
42 of the new cases were detected at entry points; another 7 travelers already in the country sought laboratories after they developed symptoms.
The remaining cases are:
251 in Attica
125 Thessaloniki
39 under investigation
30 Viotia
20 Kozani
16 Larissa
15 Ioannina,
Each 10 Kavala, Pella, Serres
9 Ilia 8 Heraklio 7 Corinth
Each 6 Trikala, Achaia
Each 5 Kastoria
Each 4 Florina, Evia, Argolida, Aitoloakarnania
Each 3 Chios, Fthiotida, Messinia, Thesprotia
Each 2 Corfu, Preveza, Pieria, Magnisia, Kilkis, Drama
Each 1 Halkidiki, Samos, Rhodes, Rodopi, Rethymno, Lesvos, Evros, Imathia
October 20: Map of infections in the last ten days, according to regional units – based on infected permanent or temporary residence – more charts here in pdf in Greek.
29 people tested positive to Covid-19 in the 3,017 random rapid tests that were carried out at Syntagma Square in downtown central Athens on Tuesday. OF those positive, 18 are men and 11 women, while the average age of all is 34.8 years. The National Public Health Organization will continue carrying out random tests in central Athens squares.
9 staff members at AHEPA Covid-19 designated hospital in Thessaloniki were tested positive.
Several schools and school-classes in Sykeon/Neapolis Municipality by Thessaloniki were shut down after 12 students were tested positive.
18 workers at cotton ginning facility in Livadeia (Viotia) were tested positive to Covid-19.
More information about coronavirus in Greece here.
